The dispute about the islands in the East China Sea has surely
played a role in the increase of People’s Liberation Army Air
Force and Navy activity in the area.

However, it was not only Chinese fighters that caused some
concern to the JASDF: from July to September, the number of QRA
(Quick Reaction Alert) departures in response to Russian planes reached a
peak of 105, up from only 31 the previous quarter (April – June).